Yorker
Encyclopedia
Yorker is a term used in cricket
that describes a ball bowled (a delivery
) which hits the cricket pitch
around the batsman's feet. When a batsman assumes a normal stance this generally means that the cricket ball
bounces on the cricket pitch
on or near the batsman's popping crease. A batsman who advances down the wicket to strike the ball (typically to slower or spin bowlers) may by so advancing cause the ball to pitch (or land) at or around their feet and may thus cause themselves to be "yorked".
A "yorker" is any delivery having the features described above and a batsman who has been "beaten" by such a delivery is said to have been "yorked". "Beaten" in this context does not mean that the batsman is bowled or given out LBW
but can include the batsmen missing the ball with the bat.
As a batsman in his normal stance will raise his bat (backlift) as the bowler bowls which can make "yorker" difficult to play when it arrives at the batsman's feet. A batsman may only realise very late that the delivery is of "yorker" length and will "jam" their bat down to "dig out" the yorker.
A "yorker" is a difficult delivery to bowl as a mistimed delivery can either result in a full toss
or half-volley which can easily be played by the batsman. A delivery which is intended to be a "yorker" but which does not "york" the batsman is known as an "attempted yorker".
, getting the batsman out. The yorker might also not even hit the bat but hit the pads in front of the wicket, resulting in the batsman getting out LBW
. When the batsman blocks such a ball, it is referred to as "dug out". A bowler who achieves swing
when bowling yorkers can be even more dangerous, as the ball will deviate sideways as it travels towards the batsman, making it even harder to hit.
Yorkers can also be aimed directly at the batsman's feet, forcing the batsman to shift his feet while attempting to play the ball, or risk being hit. Inswinging
yorkers have a reputation for being particularly hard to defend and difficult to score runs off. Such a delivery is colloquially known as a sandshoe crusher, toe crusher or nail breaker.
Despite the effectiveness of yorkers, they are notoriously difficult to bowl correctly and will usually be attempted only a handful of times during a sequence of several over
s. A slight variation in length
can mean the yorker will pitch just short of the batsman—making the ball into a half volley
that is easy to hit—or will reach the batsman without bouncing—which makes the ball a full toss
, that is also easy to hit. Yorkers are best used to surprise a batsman who has become accustomed to hitting shorter-pitched balls and not with the bat speed necessary to defend against a yorker. As such, a yorker is frequently bowled quickly to give the batsman less time to react and position his bat.
The yorker is regarded as particularly effective against weak "tail-end" batsmen, who often lack the skill to defend even a non-swinging yorker and who are sometimes less susceptible to other bowling tactics. It is also particularly effective in the later stages of an innings in one-day cricket, because it is the most difficult of all deliveries to score off even if defended successfully. Runs will often only be scored off edges or straight down the ground.
The term is thought to derive from the 18th and 19th century slang term "to pull Yorkshire" on a person meaning to trick or deceive them.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
that describes a ball bowled (a delivery
Delivery (cricket)
A delivery or ball in cricket is a single action of bowling a cricket ball towards the batsman.During play of the game, a member of the fielding team is designated as the bowler, and bowls deliveries towards the batsman...
) which hits the cricket pitch
Cricket pitch
In the game of cricket, the cricket pitch consists of the central strip of the cricket field between the wickets - 1 chain or 22 yards long and 10 feet wide. The surface is very flat and normally covered with extremely short grass though this grass is soon removed by wear at the ends of the...
around the batsman's feet. When a batsman assumes a normal stance this generally means that the cricket ball
Cricket ball
A cricket ball is a hard, solid leather ball used to play cricket. Constructed of cork and leather, a cricket ball is heavily regulated by cricket law at first class level...
bounces on the cricket pitch
Cricket pitch
In the game of cricket, the cricket pitch consists of the central strip of the cricket field between the wickets - 1 chain or 22 yards long and 10 feet wide. The surface is very flat and normally covered with extremely short grass though this grass is soon removed by wear at the ends of the...
on or near the batsman's popping crease. A batsman who advances down the wicket to strike the ball (typically to slower or spin bowlers) may by so advancing cause the ball to pitch (or land) at or around their feet and may thus cause themselves to be "yorked".
A "yorker" is any delivery having the features described above and a batsman who has been "beaten" by such a delivery is said to have been "yorked". "Beaten" in this context does not mean that the batsman is bowled or given out LBW
Leg before wicket
In the sport of cricket, leg before wicket is one of the ways in which a batsman can be dismissed. An umpire will rule a batsman out LBW under a series of circumstances which primarily include the ball striking the batsman's body when it would otherwise have continued on to hit the batsman's...
but can include the batsmen missing the ball with the bat.
As a batsman in his normal stance will raise his bat (backlift) as the bowler bowls which can make "yorker" difficult to play when it arrives at the batsman's feet. A batsman may only realise very late that the delivery is of "yorker" length and will "jam" their bat down to "dig out" the yorker.
A "yorker" is a difficult delivery to bowl as a mistimed delivery can either result in a full toss
Full toss
A full toss is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. It describes any delivery that reaches the batsman without bouncing on the pitch first....
or half-volley which can easily be played by the batsman. A delivery which is intended to be a "yorker" but which does not "york" the batsman is known as an "attempted yorker".
Use of the yorker
Bowling yorkers is a tactic used most often by fast bowlers. A fast yorker is one of the most difficult types of delivery in cricket to play successfully, as the bat must be swung down right to the pitch to intercept the ball—if any gap remains between the bat and the pitch, the ball can squeeze through and potentially go on to hit the wicketWicket
In the sport of cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings:-Definitions of wicket:Most of the time, the wicket is one of the two sets of three stumps and two bails at either end of the pitch...
, getting the batsman out. The yorker might also not even hit the bat but hit the pads in front of the wicket, resulting in the batsman getting out LBW
Leg before wicket
In the sport of cricket, leg before wicket is one of the ways in which a batsman can be dismissed. An umpire will rule a batsman out LBW under a series of circumstances which primarily include the ball striking the batsman's body when it would otherwise have continued on to hit the batsman's...
. When the batsman blocks such a ball, it is referred to as "dug out". A bowler who achieves swing
Swing bowling
Swing bowling is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. Practitioners are known as swing bowlers. Swing bowling is generally classed as a subtype of fast bowling.-Physics of swing bowling:...
when bowling yorkers can be even more dangerous, as the ball will deviate sideways as it travels towards the batsman, making it even harder to hit.
Yorkers can also be aimed directly at the batsman's feet, forcing the batsman to shift his feet while attempting to play the ball, or risk being hit. Inswinging
Inswinger
An inswinger is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. It is bowled by swing bowlers.-Grip:An inswinger is bowled by holding the cricket ball with the seam vertical and the first two fingers slightly across the seam so that it is angled a little to the leg side...
yorkers have a reputation for being particularly hard to defend and difficult to score runs off. Such a delivery is colloquially known as a sandshoe crusher, toe crusher or nail breaker.
Despite the effectiveness of yorkers, they are notoriously difficult to bowl correctly and will usually be attempted only a handful of times during a sequence of several over
Over (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, an over is a set of six consecutive balls bowled in succession. An over is normally bowled by a single bowler. However, in the event of injury preventing a bowler from completing an over, it is completed by a teammate....
s. A slight variation in length
Line and length
Line and length in cricket refers to the direction and point of bouncing on the pitch of a delivery. The two concepts are frequently discussed together.-Line:...
can mean the yorker will pitch just short of the batsman—making the ball into a half volley
Half volley
A half volley in tennis is a shot that is hit immediately after the ball bounces before it reaches the apex of its flight. It is sometimes called an "on the rise shot".-Technique:...
that is easy to hit—or will reach the batsman without bouncing—which makes the ball a full toss
Full toss
A full toss is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. It describes any delivery that reaches the batsman without bouncing on the pitch first....
, that is also easy to hit. Yorkers are best used to surprise a batsman who has become accustomed to hitting shorter-pitched balls and not with the bat speed necessary to defend against a yorker. As such, a yorker is frequently bowled quickly to give the batsman less time to react and position his bat.
The yorker is regarded as particularly effective against weak "tail-end" batsmen, who often lack the skill to defend even a non-swinging yorker and who are sometimes less susceptible to other bowling tactics. It is also particularly effective in the later stages of an innings in one-day cricket, because it is the most difficult of all deliveries to score off even if defended successfully. Runs will often only be scored off edges or straight down the ground.
The term is thought to derive from the 18th and 19th century slang term "to pull Yorkshire" on a person meaning to trick or deceive them.